Automatic feeding apparatus



W. C. WRIGHT ET AL AUTOMATIC FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5v 1921 Patented Nov. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,515,986 PATENT FFICE.

WALLACE C. WRIGHT, OF BROOKFIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND FRANK W. MERRICK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNEASSIGNMEHTS, TO AMERICAN SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC IEmJING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 8, 1821. Serial No. 484,758.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WALLACE C. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brookfield, in the county of Carroll and State of New Hampshire, and FRANK YV. Mnmucx, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Automatic Feeding Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

Our present invention is an improved and novel apparatus for the automatic feeding a of blanks, such as leather blanks, froma pile, mass or stack to and into a machine. The object of the invention is to enable a stack, mass or bunch'of blanks, whether of uneven thicknesses, lengths, or otherwise, to be accurately and automatically separated one by one and positively fed into the receiving part of the machine. .While our' automatic feeding device is intended primarily for use in connection with the bandling of leather blanks, soles, taps, heels,

etc.. it may be utilized for other purposes, and the feeding apparatus may be attached to any desired machineintended to act on the blanks thus fed into the machine. The feeding apparatus herein illustrated is designed especially for use with leather temperm machines of the illustrated in- U. S. atent-No. 1,313,510, issued August 19, 1919. In the handling of blanks-of uneven thicknesses and lengths, it is extremely dif- ,ficult to provide means which will effectually and uniformly separate the blank intended to be fed into the machine and prevent the same or the superimposed blanks from catching and sticking, thus jamming the operation of the feeding instrumentalities. In the case of feeding sole blanks, particularly, from a mass or pile, wherein it is necessary to select and feed forward the,

lowermost blank of the pile, through a throat or opening which latter must be adjusted to a s ace slightly greater than the thickest 'blan of the entire stack, great difiiculty is experienced in so arranging and adjustingfilthe same and the cooperating devices to have an accurate automatic and uniform feeding apparatus. Frequently,

such mass of soles have ridges and are warped or turned up at ends and throughout their length, giving additional difliculties to the automatic handling of suchvblanks. We have discovered that' by providing means which will slightly elevate the mass of the soles at the outermost end portion of the stack, thus depressing and inclinin the soles forwardly toward the feeding t roat, thereby relieving the major portion of the weight of the stack from the sole to be fed, i. e., the lowermost one, while impinging the weight at the feeding in or throat portion, that an entire stack of soles, irrespective of the weight, or number, may be han died with ease and facility. An important feature, therefore, of this invention, consists in the provision of means, preferably adjustable as to length and height, which will lift the major rt ion of the weight of the stack from the 1 sequently from the feeding in roll, picker, belt or the like, and impinge theweight at the feeding in throat, thus holding down.- wardly the blank at this point;

A further feature consists in the provision "stack forces" it down, and slightly forward this latter forward movement or the first feedin action of the roll, picker or the like, removing the outward end of the blank from the supporting means, allowing it to drop downwardlyand be free at its rear portion ank being fed and con-'- of'the friction and weight of the rest of the stock, thus facilitating feeding action.

' A still further feature consists in the provision-of means, preferably yielding, to impart a nip orgrip onthe endmost portion of the blank to be fed into the machine, thus insuring its being positively fed into the machine and to be withdrawn from the stock irrespective ofjthe friction at the throat and occasioned bythe impinging of the rest of the stack, as previously explained.

In .carrying out this last named feature, we provide a sliding member in close proximity to the beveled face of the guard forming the throat. In fact we utilize the adjustable guard, preferably with a beveled face to aid in the separation of the blanks as above explained, as a means determining the width of the throat opening, and the cooperating yielding means to afford a nip or grip on the end of the blank as soon as it projects through the throat, thereafter feeding and pulling the blank through the throat and out from under the stack. Preferably also a separate feeding roll or other means is supplied approximately midway of the feeding table or blank.

We believe that the provision of an auto-.

matic feeding apparatus, wherein'the preliminary separation of the lowermost blank to be fed is effected by a lifting of the outermost end of the stack, freeing the weight of the stack from the blank being fed, is distinctly new, and we wish to claim the same herein broadly. We also believe that the provision of a relatively fixedalthough adjustable-member to determine the width of the throat opening in combination with a yielding member immediately adjacent thereto, to aid in feeding forwardly the lowermost blank, is broadly novel. Also the combination of these instrumentalities, and

the arrangement, whereby the lifting of thestack at the outermost end impinges the weight on the throat end of the blank' being fed, while simultaneously effecting a preliminary supporting of the blanks, through this outermost lifting member and prefer-' ablyalso through the beveling of the fixed throat members.

1; and

Fig. 3 is an end View of the fixed and ads j ustabl e throat members. 7

Referring to, the drawings we have illustrated,'in approximate position, a portion 1 ofthe frame of the leather tempering machine such as the type illustrated'in said prior patent, together with the first air of rolls 2 and 3 in said machine to whlchahe leather blanks are fed for subsequent-conveyance into and operation upon by the devices of the tempering machine. On the frame 1 is a lug 5 having guideways 6, 6, thereon to hold andreceive a sliding guard 10. This guard has its lowermost portion 12 preferably beveled, inclined or slightly rounded, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The uppermosts portion M may be threaded to receive the corresponding threaded shank 15 of an adjusting screw 16, the end of the latter fitting into a recess 17 in the lug 5 so that manipulation of the adjusting screw 16 will act to raise or lower the guard 10 and adjust the width of opening at the throat 20. Awork supporting table 21 is fitted and held in any convenient manner to the machine, which table is preferably inclined and may extend slightly under. the

guard 10 to constitute the fixed portion of the throat 20. A pair of adjustable side guards 22 and 23 are secured to the work table 21 by bolts 24, 24, passing through enlarged slots 25 to permit adjustment of width of the guards 22, 23, which guards have upstanding flanges 26 of suitable height to receive the blanks intended to be handled.

forations 32, 32, preferably in a series of rows, as well as varying in height and position. Adapted to fit within these perforations at any predetermined pair for height and different front and rear locations, is a bar 33.' This bar is fitted. through the opposite pairs of perforations, depending on the length of the blanks being fed and also varying "somewhat in height to impart 'to the entire stack a support at the outermost end, thus automatically producing a preliminary supporting action through the tilting or inclination of the stack or bunch of blanks as the are positioned or dropped in between the anges 26. This roll 33 allows the innermost end portions adjacent the beveled face 12 of the guard 10 to rest downwardly upon the -work table 21 Ill) and allows the entire "stack adjacent the beveled face 12 to be partially supported, substantially as shown in Fig. 1. A feed wheel 35 is mounted on an axle 36 which latter maybe rotated in any desired manner and at any suitable speed, the wheel 35 having serrated edges 37 and is adapted .to extend upwardly, through appro riate recess 38 in theap roximate mi dle ortion of the work tab e 21, to allow the w eel 35 to project slightly above the surface of the work table 21 and engage the lower face of the lowermost blank in the stack. Rotationof the wheel 35' in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, thus actsto furtherseparate nuance feeding action pulls the outermost end of the blank from the roll 33, thereupon allowing the blank to drop downwardly and thus free itself from contact with and friction of the rest of the stack throughout its entire length, excepting only at the point of the throat 20. At this point the weight of the other blanks, if any, tends to hold the blank down- \vardly into desired feeding position, where it is projected under the guard 10. and onward to the feeding rolls 2 and 3 in the machine. The beveled face 12 of the guard still further facilitates and accentuates this action, and if no additional blanks are on top of the particular blank being fed, then the beveled face 12 will act to guide and force'the blank into and through the throat opening. Our improved and novel automatic feeding apparatus, as thus far de scribed, is capable of use and will accurately and uniformly handle successive sole blanks. However, in order to still further insure the positive and rapid feeding of the blank, effecting a pull and positive grip and feed in addition to the action of the wheel 35, we provide further-positive means which will secure a predetermined grip or nip on the edge of the sole, pull it out from under the stack, and prevent itssticking and insuring its being accurately and positively conducted to the rolls 2 and 3; Furthermore our additional feeding devices to be described, enable very short blanks, such as taps, heel pieces, etc., to be fed where the distance from the roll to the feed rolls 2 .and 3 of the machine is greater than the length of articles being handled. These additional devices consists ina serrated roller 40 mounted on an axle 41 substantially underneath the throat 20. This roll 40 is intended to be positively rotated and at a surface speed equal to or greater than that of the roll 35. Acting in cooperation with this roll 40 is an upper roller 44 mounted onan axle 45 in the arms 46, 46, of a slide 50. This slide preferably extends upwardly and is slidingly held by a pair of projecting lugs\51, 51, carried by the guard 10. This slide may rely upon its weight for action or a spring may be fitted if desired. The slide 50 normally extends downwardly with its curved ortion resting on the front part of the eveled face 12 of the guard 10, which latter guard has been adjusted for proper spacing of the throat 20. This still allows a slight space between the roll 44 and the work table 21 and feeding roll 40, suflicient to allowthe ready entry of the foremost edge 66 of the sole blank 30, when the sole has passed through the throat 20. Thereupon the blank lifts the roll 44, slide 50, and raises same in cooperation with the spring 55 if the. latter is in 'ition. This action affords a ni or grip or the inner feeding wheel 40 w ich is constantly rotating in a direction to feed forwardly the blank, and draw it out from under the feeding apparatus and direct the same into the machine rolls 2 and 3.

We refer to use the combination of the pair 0 feed rolls 35 and 40 in handling certain kinds of blanks, particularly soleblanks, as the throat 20 can then be adjusted with greater accuracy and the positive withdrawal and feeding of the lowermost blank 30 is always insured, than otherwise. It will be noted that the roll 35 is enabled to exert a feeding action on the blanks 30 and thus assist the feed roll 40 because of the fact that the weight of the front portion of the stack holds the lower blank 30 in engagement with the teeth 37. This gives a cooperating force to enable the roll 35 to function properly. A similar and more positive gripping efl'ect, however,-is secured by the second feeding roll 40 and the slide 50 with.

action between the blank to be fed and the remaining blanks in the apparatus;

2. Apparatus of the kind described", comprising a blank holding receptacle, and adjustable guard to predetermine a throat-to which the lowermost blank is intended to be fed, feeding means to act upon the blank, and an adjustable support cooperating with said blanks and the guard positioned and arranged to effect a preliminary separating action between'thehlank to be fed and the remaining blanks in the apparatus, in combination with yielding blank en ging means adjacent the end ofthe guar prodnping a feeding grip on the blank being fe I 1 3. Apparatus of the kind described. adapted to receive and hold a plurality of blanks, means to feed the lowermost blank from said.plurality, and means to effect a separation of the lowermost blank from the rest of the blanks.

4. Apparatus of the kind described, adapted to receive and hold a plurality of blanks, means to feed the lowermost blank from said plurality and means to 'efl'ect a I separation of the lowermost blalnk from the rest of the blanks, said separating means being adjustable vertically and longitudinallyrelatively' with the blanks.

5. Apparatus of the kind described,

'lladapted to receive and hold a pluralit of blanks, means to feed the lowermost b ank from said plurality and means to effect a lab 7 separation of the lowermost blank from the rest of the blanks, said separating means acting upon the entire stack to effect a preliminary separation of the blanks.

6. Apparatus of the kind described, adapted to receive'and hold a plurality of blanks, means to feed the lowermost blank from said plurality and means to efiect a separation of the lowermost blank from the rest of the blanks, said separating means acting upon the entire stack to force the weight of the stack to impinge upon the blank to be fed at the feeding out point.

7. Automatic feeding apparatus ofv the kind described, comprising means to receive and hold a plurality of blanks and to support and: to feed the lowermost blank of the stack successively, comprising a throat through which said blanks are fed one at a time, blank engaging means acting only upon the lowermost blank until the same is forced through said throat, and means to support the rest of the stack free from the influence of said blank feeding means. i

8. Automatic feeding apparatus of the kind described, comprising means to receive and hold a plurality of blanks and to support and to feed thel'owermost blank of the stack successively, comprising a throat through which said blanks are fed; one at a time, blank. engaging means acting only upon the lowermost blank until the same is forced through said throat, and means to support the rest of the stack free from the influence of said blank feeding means, said stack supporting means simultaneously releasing the end of the blank being fed and separating the blank from the weight and friction of the rest of the stack.-

9. Automatic feeding apparatus of the kind described, comprising means to receive and hold a plurality of blanks and to support and to feed the lowermost blank of the stack successively, comprising a throat through which said blanks are fed one at a time, blank 'engagingmeans acting only upon the lowermost blank until the same is forced through said throat, and means to support the rest of the stack free from the influence of said blank feeding means, said stack supporting means simultaneously releasing the end'of the blank being fed and separating the blank from the weight and friction of the rest of the stack, excepting only a temporary supportingaction at the throat of the apparatus.

10. Automatic feeding apparatus of the kind described, adapted for assembling at the feeding in end of a machine, compris ing means to receive andhold a plurality of blanks to be fed to said machine, means to separate the blanks prior to feeding, and as fed from said aparatus to the machine, including blank engaging feeding devices to remove a blank from the apparatus in combination with additional feeding and guiding members between the blank feeding devices and the operating parts of said machine;

11. Automatic feeding apparatus of the kind described, comprising a blank supporting table, a recess'through said table, a rotating-blank engaging picker wheel operating through the recess'in said table, adjustable side walls to retain the blanks in feeding position, said side walls having a plurality of recesses and an adjustable blank supporting member fitted in said recesses from wall to wall, and acting to,incline the blanks in predetermined position.

12. Automatic feeding apparatus of the kind described, comprising a blank supporting table, a recess throu h said table, a rotating blank engaging picker wheel operating through the recess in said table, adjustable side walls to retain the blanks in feeding position, said side walls having a plurality of recesses and an adjustable blank supporting member fitted in said recesses from wall to wall, 'and acting to incline the blanks toward the feeding out end of the apparatus.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification,

WALCE 0. rear, FRANK w. MERRICK. 

